If you’ve spent any time looking at American elections over the last twenty years, you’ve definitely heard the name. The Kochs. Specifically, Charles and the late David Koch. People talk about koch brothers political donations like they’re this monolithic, unstoppable force of nature that just buys and sells politicians at will. Honestly, though? The reality is way more complicated—and in some ways, way more interesting—than just "billionaires writing checks."
David passed away in 2019. Charles is still at the helm of a massive, sprawling network that has shifted its focus more than once. They aren't just donors; they are the architects of a whole shadow party.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Network
Everyone focuses on the candidates. They think about the big TV ads during election years. But that's actually the tip of the iceberg.
Basically, the Koch strategy is about the "long game." They don't just care who wins the presidency—in fact, they famously sat out the 2016 and 2024 presidential races at the top of the ticket because they didn't like the options. Instead, they pour money into what they call "the infrastructure of a free society."
What does that actually look like?
Think about it this way:
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- Think Tanks: Funding the ideas that eventually become laws (Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation).
- Ground Games: Americans for Prosperity (AFP) has a literal army of door-knockers that rivals the RNC.
- State Houses: They realized early on that $1 million goes a lot further in a state senate race in Ohio than in a national ad buy.
One of the wildest stats is from the 2016 cycle. The network aimed to spend nearly $880 million. That is an insane amount of money. For context, that’s not just "donations"—that’s a budget for a multi-front ideological war.
The Shift From "Brothers" to the "Network"
You’ve probably noticed the media stopped saying "Koch brothers" as much and started saying "the Koch network." Around 2018, the lieutenants in the organization actually started asking people to use that term. Why? Because it’s not just two guys anymore. It’s a group of about 500 ultra-wealthy donors who all chip in at least $100,000 a year.
It’s like a private club for billionaires who want to change the world. They meet twice a year at these super-secret summits in places like Aspen or Palm Springs. They take everyone's cell phones. They have "investor" meetings. It’s very corporate.
Where the Cash Goes Now
In the 2024 cycle, while everyone was looking at the White House, AFP Action (the super PAC) was quietly dropping $78 million on federal races by August alone. They were targeting Senate races in places like Montana, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. They wanted to flip the Senate.
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But they also spend on things that might surprise you.
- Criminal Justice Reform: They worked with the Obama administration and the ACLU. Really.
- Same-Sex Marriage: David Koch was actually pro-choice and supported marriage equality way before it was trendy in the GOP.
- Occupational Licensing: They hate that you need a license to braid hair or be an interior designer.
The Climate Change Controversy
You can't talk about koch brothers political donations without talking about the environment. This is where the criticism gets the loudest. Since Koch Industries is largely built on oil and chemicals, their political spending has heavily targeted climate legislation.
They were early and aggressive in funding climate skepticism. We're talking about more than $100 million funneled into groups that fought against cap-and-trade or carbon taxes. Organizations like the Manhattan Institute and Americans for Prosperity have been the boots on the ground for this for decades. It's probably the most effective use of political capital in history, if your goal was to prevent environmental regulation.
How to Track the "Dark Money"
Most of this spending is "dark." That means you can't see the original donor because it flows through 501(c)(4) nonprofits.
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Here is the breakdown of how they move the money:
- Direct Donations: Very small. Only a few million go directly to candidates because of legal limits.
- Lobbying: Massive. They spend tens of millions every year just talking to lawmakers.
- Grants: They give to "disregarded entities" (LLCs) that then give to other groups. It’s a shell game that makes it almost impossible to follow the dollar from Charles Koch’s pocket to a specific TV ad.
What Happens in 2026 and Beyond?
With David gone and Charles getting older, the focus is shifting. Chase Koch, Charles’s son, is increasingly involved. Word on the street is that he’s less interested in the partisan "red vs. blue" fighting and more into "Stand Together," which focuses on community-based solutions to poverty and addiction.
Does that mean the political spending stops? No way. The machine is too big.
If you want to understand where the influence is actually moving, watch the State Policy Network. This is a collection of state-level think tanks that the Kochs fund heavily. They are the ones writing the "model legislation" that gets passed in places like Texas and Florida.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
- Follow the FEC Filings: If you want to see the "light" money, search for "Americans for Prosperity Action" on the FEC website. It'll show you the big corporate checks.
- Look at ALEC: The American Legislative Exchange Council is where the Koch network's money meets actual lawmakers. If you see a weirdly specific law pass in three different states, it probably started there.
- Diversify Your Sources: Don't just read the headlines. Check out investigative reports from ProPublica or the Center for Media and Democracy. They do the boring work of reading tax returns so you don't have to.
The Koch influence isn't just about the volume of cash. It's about the precision. They aren't throwing money at the wall; they're building the wall. Whether you love them or hate them, you have to admit: they changed how politics is bought and sold in America.
To stay updated on these shifting financial flows, monitor the OpenSecrets database for newly filed Form 990s from the Stand Together Chamber of Commerce and the Charles Koch Foundation. These documents, usually released with a significant time lag, provide the most granular view of which academic programs and policy shops are currently receiving the largest tranches of network capital. Additionally, tracking the legislative dockets in states with high SPN (State Policy Network) activity can offer a preview of national policy trends before they reach the federal level.